Where the Heart Is
It’s a perfect day to go out for a walk in the park. Enjoy nature’s beauty and being outside.
#TakeAWalkInTheParkDay
People are the heart of every community. A little advanced thinking helps keep that heart in the right place. Like creating parks and recreational areas. Gracefully meshing tourist draws with the needs of local residents. Skirting roads with pedestrian and bike trails. Bringing multi-discipline expertise to municipal planning. Coordinating the zoning, infrastructure needs, and development plans of adjacent communities. SSM's certified planners work hand-in-hand with municipalities to help manage growth, protect resources, and enhance communities and the quality of life of the people living there.
A Walk in the Park
On March 30th we celebrate National Take a Walk in the Park Day an (unofficial) annual holiday encouraging people to get active and enjoy the physical and mental benefits that come from walking in nature. It’s a perfect day to go out for a walk in the park. Enjoy nature’s beauty and being outside. According to timeanddate.com, “Walking in nature - away from the dust and pollution of streets and cars - can boost moods and reduce stress.”
How can you celebrate?
Grab your favorite walking shoes, leave your phone behind and breathe in the fresh air as you walk around your local park.
Bring a good friend or a family member with you on your walk. What better way to enjoy nature and maintain your health than to share it with a loved one?
Join the online conversation and share a post of you enjoying nature’s beauty. #TakeAWalkInTheParkDay
We’re celebrating some of our community recreational projects:
Jordan Greenway Trail - SSM prepared construction drawings for a one-mile section of paved multi-use trail along the Jordan Creek within property owned by Whitehall Township.
Structural Assessment for Coal Breaker at Eckley Miner’s Village - SSM's structural engineers assessed the existing condition of the timber-framed structure and provided engineering analysis and design to replace or reconstruct a portion of the coal breaker, called the tipple.
Bingaman House Recreational Center - Lake Antietam Park
Let Your Nerd Flag Fly
Did You Know ….
. . . the engineers at SSM do
Did You Know . . .
The City of Reading’s Wastewater Treatment Facility was the first trickling filter plant in the United States.
The more you can smell the “chlorine” smell, actually means you need to add more chlorine. In a swimming pool that is being heavily used, smelling chlorine means that it is oxidizing organics, and more will need to be added since it is being used up. So, in a pool that is correctly balanced, you will subtly smell the chlorine at close range, but it won’t be “in your face”. A pool under heavy load will have a stronger smell until more chlorine is added. But … one caveat, if the pool water is correctly balanced and then someone adds more chlorine than is needed, the smell will also be present.
Typically the distance between sanitary sewer manholes is 400 feet.
Philadelphia’s water infrastructure system is roughly 200 years old, dating back to 1815 when the “Fairmount Water Works” began operating using steam driven pumps to pump water from the Schuylkill River.
If you’re focusing on sustainability . . . maybe it’s time to trade-in the plastic straw
Did You Know . . . that each day we use an estimated 500 million straws?
That’s an average rate of 1.6 straws per person per day! (http://www.ecocycle.org/bestrawfree)
Did You Know . . . that each day we use an estimated 500 million straws? That’s an average rate of 1.6 straws per person per day! (http://www.ecocycle.org/bestrawfree)
Recently, many fast-food restaurants, cities, parks, and businesses have taken a step toward reducing the use of plastic and have pledged to ban plastic straws in their areas. Reusable stainless steel drinking straws aren’t just a stylish new fad, they’re a way to help keep plastic straws out of our oceans and landfills. Not only are they incredibly durable and long-lasting, but when they are at the end of their life and it’s time to dispose of, you can rest assured knowing that stainless steel is the most recycled material on earth.
Need some more reasons to make the switch?
Reduce your BPA consumption. By reducing your contact with the plastic used to make disposable straws, you reduce your consumption of BPA (Bisphenol A), an industrial chemical that can contaminate your food and drinks, which can negatively impact your health in the form of cancers, birth defects and more. In addition, just the manufacturing of these plastic products releases many disruptive carcinogenic and neurotoxic chemicals into the atmosphere which make their way into our ecosystems for consumption.
Enjoy the cold a little longer. Steel retains the temperature of your drink much longer than your typical plastic straw and prevents it from melting down. No more having to gulp down your cold beverage on a hot summer day in fear of it melting before you can even enjoy it.
Convenience. Not only are they sturdy, but they are convenient to carry wherever you go. Perfect for those who need their smoothie or post-workout protein, as well as anyone who wants to bring their drinks to the office. The straws come with a convenient cleaning bristle-brush for quick cleaning between drinks, and both can be stored quickly back into their small travel pouch. All are dishwasher safe, too.
Environmentally Friendly. Aside from the personal benefits of converting to reusable stainless steel straws, the biggest benefit will be the positive impact you’ll make on the environment. And, hey, isn’t that the collective goal of us all?
Want to give it a try? Request an SSM Straw.